Untitled
By: Crystal
* * * As told by Ex-Brooklyn Leader: Cain * * *
Why Spot Conlon? It is a question I have heard many times. Why had I chosen Spot Conlon as leader? Simple––he showed promise. Promise to being able to keep Brooklyn settled, promise to being able to handle situations as they arrived. He had promise to becoming one of the best leaders Brooklyn had ever known, or even New York for that matter. It is hard to explain.
Now, there have been many other speculations. I have even heard that he threatened me, so I had to give him the position. He took the position himself, threatening the boy I had first chosen. Others say that he was not fit as leader, and that he was too egotistical. Trust me, he's fit as leader. I racked my mind for weeks trying to pick the best leader for when I left, and Spot was my choice. Frankly, the best decision I had ever made.
Leadership is a hard job for someone to do, especially when leading a bunch of rambunctious teenagers. Rambunctious boys who fight, yell, and put themselves in dangerous situations. Teenagers who could possibly be killed in any situation that arises. It is a lot of work. It takes someone who knows a lot about planning, someone who can keep their cool when under pressure. It is quite hard to find a person who has all the qualities of a good leader—passion, humor, strength of character, maturity, wisdom, common sense, trustworthiness, reliability, confidence, patience, being able to teach, decisiveness, organized, a listener, knowledge of strength and weaknesses, responsible, a good sense of intuition, and being able to find ways to fix problems instead of blaming others.
Therefore, when I decided to broaden my views and move out of New York, I wanted Antonio, my second-in-command, to come with me. I had known him since we were five, and I could not imagine leaving him behind. However, with both of us leaving, that left the ever-growing question: Who would take our place? That is a hard question for a leader to answer.
As I sat on the dock by the river, I let my thoughts run through my head. I was sure I was doing the right thing. I had yet to speak with Antonio about my idea of wanting him to go with me. He very well could say no. I would not blame him. His life is in Brooklyn.
"Cain?"
I rubbed my forehead and looked over at the boy. "Yes, Billy?"
"Tony was wondering if you were coming back tonight."
I had not even realized that night had approached. The sky had become dark and the moon shown across the river. I lifted my head towards the sky, looking the million different stars twinkling down upon the city. I remembered people always telling me that the stars hold your destiny. "Why didn't Tony come find me himself?"
I waited while Billy struck a match against a crate to light his cigarette. "I don't know, Cain. He's in the middle of a poker game, and I suppose his lazy ass didn't want to get up."
A small smile appeared, and I nodded. It sounded like Antonio. He was a gambler. I could see him sitting around a table, smoke rising around his face from the cigar sitting in the corner of his mouth. Stolen, of course. I could picture his deep laugh as he shuffled the cards, making sure there was no way anyone could cheat. An honest gambler—that was Antonio. It was rare. "I'll go put mind at ease then. Thanks, Billy."
"Anytime."
I left the boy at the dock as I returned to the lodging house. Billy was seventeen, like many of the boys. He was hard working, and he had a determined spirit. He was loyal to everyone in Brooklyn, which is definitely a good quality to have. Yet, he was scrappy. He did not think clearly when it came to scuffles and fights. Billy was usually the one we had to control. He was a loose cannon, and no one knew what he would do next. The younger boys trusted him, but Billy was still a fighter. He was not a strategist. He was not a planner.
As I entered the lodging house, the thick, musty smell of cigarettes and smoke filled my lungs. I cleared my throat as I made my way through the parlor towards the back corner. There, I found Antonio with a group of boys, playing poker. I smiled as I noticed the cigar hanging loosely from the corner of his lips. As always.
"Cain!" Antonio looked up at me as I approached closer. "Decided to finally come back?"
"Just doing some thinking."
"That's bad for you, you know." He smirked at me as he discards two cards. He accepted two new one and added them to his hand.
"No shit." I ran a hand through my hair, watching the boys. No one knew I was leaving. I preferred to keep it that way, actually. I did not want people fussing about it. It was also smart to not let the other territories know that I was leaving before I had chosen my successor. They would be over here quicker than a bee to honey.
"You want to join in on the game?"
"Ah, no," I told him, shaking my head. I could not think clearly enough to attempt to play poker with him. "I'm just going to head up."
* * * As told by Ex-Brooklyn Leader: Cain * * *
Why Spot Conlon? It is a question I have heard many times. Why had I chosen Spot Conlon as leader? Simple––he showed promise. Promise to being able to keep Brooklyn settled, promise to being able to handle situations as they arrived. He had promise to becoming one of the best leaders Brooklyn had ever known, or even New York for that matter. It is hard to explain.
Now, there have been many other speculations. I have even heard that he threatened me, so I had to give him the position. He took the position himself, threatening the boy I had first chosen. Others say that he was not fit as leader, and that he was too egotistical. Trust me, he's fit as leader. I racked my mind for weeks trying to pick the best leader for when I left, and Spot was my choice. Frankly, the best decision I had ever made.
Leadership is a hard job for someone to do, especially when leading a bunch of rambunctious teenagers. Rambunctious boys who fight, yell, and put themselves in dangerous situations. Teenagers who could possibly be killed in any situation that arises. It is a lot of work. It takes someone who knows a lot about planning, someone who can keep their cool when under pressure. It is quite hard to find a person who has all the qualities of a good leader—passion, humor, strength of character, maturity, wisdom, common sense, trustworthiness, reliability, confidence, patience, being able to teach, decisiveness, organized, a listener, knowledge of strength and weaknesses, responsible, a good sense of intuition, and being able to find ways to fix problems instead of blaming others.
Therefore, when I decided to broaden my views and move out of New York, I wanted Antonio, my second-in-command, to come with me. I had known him since we were five, and I could not imagine leaving him behind. However, with both of us leaving, that left the ever-growing question: Who would take our place? That is a hard question for a leader to answer.
As I sat on the dock by the river, I let my thoughts run through my head. I was sure I was doing the right thing. I had yet to speak with Antonio about my idea of wanting him to go with me. He very well could say no. I would not blame him. His life is in Brooklyn.
"Cain?"
I rubbed my forehead and looked over at the boy. "Yes, Billy?"
"Tony was wondering if you were coming back tonight."
I had not even realized that night had approached. The sky had become dark and the moon shown across the river. I lifted my head towards the sky, looking the million different stars twinkling down upon the city. I remembered people always telling me that the stars hold your destiny. "Why didn't Tony come find me himself?"
I waited while Billy struck a match against a crate to light his cigarette. "I don't know, Cain. He's in the middle of a poker game, and I suppose his lazy ass didn't want to get up."
A small smile appeared, and I nodded. It sounded like Antonio. He was a gambler. I could see him sitting around a table, smoke rising around his face from the cigar sitting in the corner of his mouth. Stolen, of course. I could picture his deep laugh as he shuffled the cards, making sure there was no way anyone could cheat. An honest gambler—that was Antonio. It was rare. "I'll go put mind at ease then. Thanks, Billy."
"Anytime."
I left the boy at the dock as I returned to the lodging house. Billy was seventeen, like many of the boys. He was hard working, and he had a determined spirit. He was loyal to everyone in Brooklyn, which is definitely a good quality to have. Yet, he was scrappy. He did not think clearly when it came to scuffles and fights. Billy was usually the one we had to control. He was a loose cannon, and no one knew what he would do next. The younger boys trusted him, but Billy was still a fighter. He was not a strategist. He was not a planner.
As I entered the lodging house, the thick, musty smell of cigarettes and smoke filled my lungs. I cleared my throat as I made my way through the parlor towards the back corner. There, I found Antonio with a group of boys, playing poker. I smiled as I noticed the cigar hanging loosely from the corner of his lips. As always.
"Cain!" Antonio looked up at me as I approached closer. "Decided to finally come back?"
"Just doing some thinking."
"That's bad for you, you know." He smirked at me as he discards two cards. He accepted two new one and added them to his hand.
"No shit." I ran a hand through my hair, watching the boys. No one knew I was leaving. I preferred to keep it that way, actually. I did not want people fussing about it. It was also smart to not let the other territories know that I was leaving before I had chosen my successor. They would be over here quicker than a bee to honey.
"You want to join in on the game?"
"Ah, no," I told him, shaking my head. I could not think clearly enough to attempt to play poker with him. "I'm just going to head up."